On the night of Thursday June 23 to Friday 24, Adam Silver and Mark Tatum called 58 prospects to come up to the stage at Barclays Center. Among them, Hugo Besson, leader of the New Zealand Breakers, and especially one of the four French selected that evening. A week later, on the YouTube channel « VBH » – held by Luke Van Bockstaele and Hugo himself – the vlog of his draft has been made available. It’s pretty pro, and it’s worth the detour.
What does a prospective NBA draft candidate do on the eve of the ceremony? Costume try-ons all over Manhattan? Do a series of meetings with his agents in order to prepare a plan for each scenario? Book interviews, relax in a gym, meet players and get a lot of advice? Hugo Besson slaps a shirtless friend with a tortilla. This is where the video is great: we have a great proximity with the former Saint-Quentin, as if we were part of his band. When each element of a player’s communication is usually calculated, it’s cool to follow a prospect’s draft from the inside, without going through any media other than himself. This privilege is worth all the documentaries and reported words, over which there will always be a doubt of authenticity. We thus discover a great humility in Hugo Besson, simplicity – head firmly fixed on his shoulders – and even an overflow of honesty. Initially expected at the start of the second round in the mocks draft, Hugo was finally selected in the 58th and last position of the 2022 Draft by the Bucks. When many would say “The important thing was the selection, now we will have to work to find our place”, Besson repeats the same speech but slips in – naturally – an ounce of disappointment. It’s frankly not the banana, but the most important thing remains acquired.
58th and last PICK of the DRAFT 2022
???????? Hugo Besson (@HugoBesson8)
Selected by the Pacers, Hugo joins the Bucks ????#NBADraft pic.twitter.com/unf0naeT2S
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) June 24, 2022
What else ? A short tour of the premises of Primedia, for a visit to the famous SLAM Magazine. A very rhinestone, very sequined limousine – probably commissioned by the Comsport agency – to go to the Barclays Center. Twelve trips to Times Square, one to the hairdresser. An appearance by Hugo’s family, with a rather moving sequence during which his mother closes his shirt for him during his costume tests: “I have the impression that you are getting married kitten, well I prefer that rather than you getting married”. In short, we have the impression of living the adventure at his side, without going into too much detail. That’s to say ? That is to say that we do not have our right to look at the business and strategy oriented moments. Jérémy Medjana and Bouna A. Ndiaye – the pillars of Comsport – spend very little in the vlog. We see them in the background, without them intervening. The vlog is more focused “travel with friends”. It makes sense, and it’s more than enough for our entertainment.
Nice discovery that this chain « VBH ». Hoping that Luke Van Bockstaele – Metropolitans 92 Espoirs player – and Hugo continue to publish content over the next few months, just to follow his Summer League with the Bucks as well as the adventures to come.